TODAY’S Prime Minister’s Questions was as boisterous as ever. It was also a first for me: the first time I’ve had the opportunity to ask a question to the PM since being elected as an MP. I chose to raise the issue of the lack of meningitis vaccine for all children, which led to the death of Layla Rose from Lime Side in Oldham.
Layla Rose was just 6 years old when she contracted Meningitis and later died in hospital.
There were failings by the Royal Oldham Hospital, who failed to spot important signs of Meningitis, and they will be addressed, but fundamentally Layla Rose would be alive today had she received the MenB vaccination.
I have asked the Prime Minister if she will meet with Layla’s parents and campaigners to discuss expanding the MenB vaccination programme to all children.
I welcome the Prime Minister’s initial response, which was to meet with the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt; but she did not go far enough by failing to touch on the Government’s responsibility to protect all children against meningitis.
Stephen Carter (picture above), who is Layla’s uncle and leads the Layla’s Law campaign, said: “We are thankful of Jim’s commitment to Layla’s Law, and welcome the Prime Minister’s offer of the Health Secretary meeting with him to discuss this issue further.
“We are worried however that she still refuses to acknowledge the lack of a thorough vaccination programme, and that more children remain at risk because of the Government’s lack of action on this issue.
“Our campaign will not rest until the Men B vaccination is rolled out to all children.”
Jim McMahon OBE MP 